Embroidery-sewing machine.



H. CORRALL & I. M. FORBES.

EMBROIDERY SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9, I914.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

- 2 SHEETS SHEET I- INVENTORS H. CORRALL 811. M. FDRBES.

EMBROIDERY SEWING MACHINE.

APPUCATION FILED FEB. 9. 914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- A TTOR/VEY UNITED STATES FATE T OFFICE.

HERBERT CORRALE, 0F HELENSBURGH, AND JAMES MOIR FORBES, OF GLASGOW, SCOT- LAND, ASSIGNORS TO THESINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

EMBROIDERY-SEWING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 11915.

Application filed February 9, 1914. I Serial No. 817.459.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Hnunnu'r CORRALL and Janus Mom F-onnns, subjects of the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at Helensburgh, Dumbartonshire, Scotland, and Scotstoun, Glasgow, Scotland, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Embroidery-Sewing Machines, of which the following is a Specification.

This invention relates to improvements in embroidery sewing machines, and more par- .ticularly to'means for locking the workholders of a train of machines against movement while the needles are in the work, and for locking the needles in their upper position after the work holders have been released and at the completion of each stitch.

In the production of embroidery work by means of two or more embroidery sewing machines the worlcholder for each machine is varried by a bar or the like connected to a manually actuated pantograph device by means of which the work-holders are simultaneously operated to cause the reproduction of a design by stitching.

The invention relates to a combination of elements including a tubular arm within which is journaled a rock-shaft provided near one end with cam-fingers which engage a clamping-plate interposed between an opening in the tubular arm and the workholder bar, said clamping-plate being normally spring-pressed out of engagement with the work-holder bar. The rock-shaft is provided with a' crank-arm which is operated from an eccentric on a driving-shaft which extends transversely of the sewing machine standards, the main-shaft within each standard and the driving-shaft being connected by means of helical gears contained within an oil-casing. The aforesaid actuating mechanism for the clampingplate is so timed with respect to the needleactuating means of each sewing machine in the train that the work-holder bar and the Wonk-holders supported thereby are held fast throughout the movement of the needles in the work, and no strain will be imposed on the work in any attempt to shift the pantograph.

\ The .improyements afford an additional safeguard against imperfect work when it is desired to produce long filling-stitches, such as those used to fill in the outline of'a leaf or an initial. In such case the stitchformiug mechanism of each machine may be automatically controlled to prevent the descent of the needles after the work-holders have been released at the completion of each stitch. Thus the operator may take ample time to properly position the pantograph before he permits the needles to descend for the succeeding stitch. The means for this purpose comprise a friction disk fixed to the driving-shaft, a continuously rotating driving-wheel, and means for moving said driving-wheel toward and from the friction disk, including a plural-armed rock-lever operated by a bell-crank connected to a treadle device. The friction disk is provided with a stop element adapted to be engaged by one of the arms of the rocklever when the driving-shaft and the main shaft of each machine is so positioned that the needles are above the work. By movement of the bell-crank from one extreme po sition to the other the rock-lever is tilted to throw the driving-wheel into operative contact with the friction disk and is then automatically released to throw one of its arms into contact with the rotating disk and in position to engage its stop element when the disk completes a single rotation.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the improvements, one only of the train of embroidery sewing machines being shown, the needle of said machine being in the work. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same through the tubular arm of the clamping device. Fig. 3 is a cross section on line U-0J, Fig. 2. F ig. 4 is aperspective view of the clamping plate. Fig. 5 is a rear perspective of the improvements showing the needle immediately prior to its descent. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the stop-collar and trip element for the friction disk. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the improvements in connection with a train of work-holders and a train of sewing machine heads.

Each embroidery machine 1 is provided with the main-shaft 2 connected by means of the usual instrumentalities to needle-bar 3, and rotated by means of the helical gearwheel 4 on main-shaft 2 engaging a similar gear-wheel 4* on-driving-sha-ft 5, arranged within which said gear-wheels are received.

The machines are supported upon a Worktable A, the frame of the work-table comprising the angle-bars a, b, 0, connected in a suitable manner to form a rigid construction, and a work-holder 7 is provided for each machine, the work W being clamped within said holder by means of the clamplug-ring 8. The work-holder is connected to a bracket 9 having a longitudinal slot 10 to receive the shank of thumb-screw 11 by means of which the work-holder is adjustably secured to a bar 12, connected at each end by means of screws 13 to a section.

of the pantograph device B, B, said device being secured to guide-bar 14ofthe usual construction. V

The work-holder bar is actuated above the friction-face 15* of abracket' 1.5 secured at one end by means of screws 16 to angle-bar b and at its opposite end secured by means of screw 17 to'angle-barc. Overlyingth'e work-holder bar and extending transversely in lug 35, one end ofthe spring being con- 'nected to the tubular arm and the opposite end of said "spring being seated within of. the worlrtable is a tubular arm '18 provided near its rear end with seats 19 to receive center-screws 2O entering apertures formed in the upwardly extending arms21 of a bracket-support 22 secured to a plate 23 supported by the work-table. Within the tubular arm and supported lay-bearings 24,

25 and'26 is a rock-shaft 27 provided at its rear end with a crank-arm 28 formed with an aperture to receive an eccentric rod 29' and pressed downwardly into engage-- ment with stop-nut 30 on' said rod by means of helical-spring 31. The eccentric rod is provided with a strap 29 which embraces an eccentric '32 on driving-shaft 5 from which rocking movements are imparted to the shaft 27. It will be seenthat manipulation of stop-nut 30 will effect a circular adjustment of the rock-shaft.

The tubular arm is provlded withan opening between bearing members 25 and 26 to receive a clamping-plate 33 provided with a friction face 33 to engage the workholder bar 12. The. clamping-plate is provided also with a hub 34 disposed inter- -media te apertured lugs 35 and 36 on the tubular 'arm,18', said lugs receiving a pin 37 which enters the hub 34 and pivotally connects the plate with the tubular arm. The clamping-plate is normally elevated out of engagement with the work-holder bar by means of'a spring 38 coiled arbund pin 37 and seated within an aperture formed an aperture 39 formed in the clampingplate.

In its front end the tubular arm is provided withspaced lugs/10 to receive a pin 41" pivoted between'lugs' 42 on bracket 15 and provided with thumb-nut43 by which the foot 18 of the tubular arnr is pressed upon the upper face of bracket 15 andthe" arm held firmly against movement. It will be seen that the tubular arm. may be tilted upwardly upon center-screws 20 when the thumb-nut 43 is loosened and the pin-41 retracted.

Rotation of driving-shaft 5 will transmit r-eciprocating movements to the needle-bar 3 and the needle clamped thereto. It will be seen that each. rotation of the drivingshaft will cause the eccentric 32 to impart a rocking. movement to shaft 27 and thereby carry the cam-fingers L7 on said shaft into engagement with the clamping-plate 33 to pressthe frictionface. of the latter intoengagement with work-holder bar 12 during the time the needles are in the work a second movement of the rock-shaft retracting the clamping elements as the needles rise above the work.

The driving-shaft has fixed thereon rial 50 fitted within an annular groove formed in the inner face of the friction disk. The driving-wheel is provided with the usual peripheral groove 49* to receive driving-belt 51 connected by suitable means to a motor or other power device.

In Fig. 5 the machine l is the first of'the train of embroidery machines, and the oilcasing 6, which incloses the operating gearwheels 4. and 4" for the machine, is formed integrally with a bracket '52 secured to the sewing machine standard bymeans of a screw '53 and provided with a laterally projectingfoot which affords a support for the plural-armed operating rock-lever 54, said lever being pivoted uponthe bracket foot by means of, astud-screw 55 whichenters' an aperture formed within the hub .56 of said lever, the enlarged head of said screw serving to confine upon said hub the sleeve 57 of a brake-arm 58 provided with a brakeshoe 59 adapted to contact with theinclined surface 60 upon the friction disk. The brake-arm rests upon the ehd of a screw 61 adjustable'within boss 62 upon one arm b'of' the rock-lever. The arm'a of the'rock-lever is enlarged at its extremity andprovided with a socket to receive a spring plungerpin having a rounded head 63*whieh is disw -posed adjacent the cap 48 of driving: wheel.

49. It will be seen that the movement of rock-lever 54 to the left from the position shown in Fig. 5 will carrythe plunger-pin away from the driving-wheel, thus permittingthe spring 46 to move said Wheel out of operative engagement with the friction disk,

it'being apparent that such movement of the lever will carry brake-arm 58 in position to engage inclined space 60 of the drivingwheel. The reverse movement of lever 5% will move the driving-wheel axially against I ing connected to a pin 67 secured to the disk,

and the opposite ends of the springs being connected to a pin 68passing through a concentric slot 69 formed in the disk and being fixed to the fiange-70 of a collar 71 loosely mounted upon the hub 45 of said friction disk and normally rotating therewith. The

flange 70 of said collar is cut away to provide a gap and opposed shoulders 70". When lever 54 ls rocked to stop the machines, a tr1pelement 72 upon one arm 6 of the rock-lever enters the gap formed in the flange of collar 71 and engages one of the shoulders 70, whereby the collar is held against rotation and the momentum cf the friction disk is overcome by the compression of one spring and the expansion of the second spring, aided by the action of brake 58.

The operating means for rock-lever 54 comprises a bell-crank 73 pivoted by means of stud-screw 74 to a bracket 75 secured to the work-table A, said bell-crank being provided with a roller 7 6 adapted to engage the point of a pin 77 secured to the outer extremity of the arm 0 of lever 54. To the bell-crank is secured the upper end of a rod 78 operatively connected at its lower end to a treadle-device of any suitable construction. A spring 79 secured to the table and connected to the rock-lever tends to tilt the latter to carry arm a out of engagement with the driving-Wheel and the brake and trip elements into engagement with the friction disk.

It will be seen that the bell-crank 7 3 in its mid-way position, as shown in Fig. 5, will hold arm 0 of the rock-lever elevated and the driving-wheel in operative engagement with the friction disk and thus will efiect a continuous operation of each machine while it remains in such position. To cause the machines to be stopped automatically at the termination of each stitch, the bell-crank 73 is moved from one extreme position to the other, whereby the roller 76 engages the pin 77 on arm c of the lever 54, and causes'the spring plunger carried by arm a to engage the cap 47 on driving-wheel 49, the-latter being moved axially against-the action of.

spring 46 so that its face is brought into operative engagement with the friction disk. The roller 76 in reaching its extreme posi tion passes pin 77 and permits the lever to be tilted by spring 79 toward the left from the position shown in Fig. '5, thus carrying the trip-element 72 into contact with the flange of collar 71. Vvhen the disk in com' 1 pleting one revolution has caused the stitchformmg mechanism to produce a stitch and the needles to rise above the work simultaneously with the release of. the work-holder.

clamp, the gap in collar 71. comes into register with trip-element 72, and the latter moves into said gap simultaneously with the application of brake-arm 58 to the rotating disk,

whereby further rotation of the disk is p.re-'

vented, as hereinbefore described.

It will be understood-that the drivingshaft 5 for the train of machines may be formed in sections, the-sections being con= nected by coupling bars 79 or the like. It

is evident also that a cam may be substi tuted for eccentric 32, and that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Havin thus set forth the nature of the inu I v ventlon, what we clann hereln 1s:-

1. 1n embroidery sewing machines, thecombination with a train of sewing machine heads each head contalnmg a -ma1n'-shaft and operating parts for stitclrfornnng "mechanism, of a train ofwork-holders, a

pantograph, a supporting-bar connecting said work-holders and the pantograph, a driving shaft adapted to actuate the mainshaft of each machine head, and means controlled said shaft for holding said supporting-bar motionless during periods of the stitch-forming operations.

2.. In embroidery sewing machines, the combination with the driving shaft, a frame, a rock-shaft supported for bodily movement upon said frame, and operative connections between saidshafts, of awork-holder, means for supporting said Work-holder, including a movable bar, clamping means for said bar including a member movable with said rock-shaft, and a latch device adapted to hold the rock-shaft against bodily .movement.

3. In embroidery sewing machines, the combination with a driving shaft, a rockshaft and operative connections between said shafts, of a bodily movable carrier for said rock-shaftand a latch device adapted to hold said carrier against movement, a, worklOt taining member and a clamping member controlled by said rock-shaft and bodily movable therewith.

said shafts, of a tubular arm withinwhich 4. In embroidery sewing machines, the combination with a driving-shaft, a rockshaft, and operative connections between said rock-shaft is journaled, a work-holder, means for supporting said work-holder including a movable bar, a pantograph connected .to said bar, and means for periodically holding said bar motionless including a cam-finger upon said rock-shaft.

5. In embroidery sewing machines, the

combination with a driving-shaft, a rockshaft, and .operative connections between saidshafts, of a tubular arm within which" said rock-shaft is journaled',,-a work-holder,

means for supporting said work-holder including a movable bar, a pantograph connected to .said bar, and means for periodically holding said bar motionless including a fixed clamping member, a damping-plate movabletoward and from said fixed. memher, a spring engaging said clamping-plate and means carried by said rock-shaft for moving said plate against the action of its spring and toward said fixed clamping member.

6. In embroidery sewing machines, the

combination with a drivingshaft, a rockshaft and operative connections between said shafts,of a workholder, a supportingbar, means I for adjustably connecting the work-holder and the supporting-bar, a pantograph device connected to said bar, a tubular arm within which said rock-shaft is journaled, a pivotal support for said tubular arm, means for locking said arms against movement, a clamping-plate overlying and normally spring-pressed out of engagement with said supporting-bar, and means carried by said rock-shaft for periodicallymoving said clamping-plate to engage said bar and to hold the same motionless.

7. In embroidery sewing machines, the combination with a driving-shaft and a rock-shaft, of a crank-arm on said rockshaft, operative connections between said driving-shaft and the crank-arm including Gopies of this, patent may be obtained'for broidery sewing machines, each including shaft 'for preventing the descent of each a reciprocating rod and means for adjusting said crank-arm relatively to the rod, of a tubular arm within which said rock-shaft is journaled, a movable clamping-plate supported by said tubular arm, a cam carried a needle and means for reciprocating the same, of a series of work-holders, a pantograph, a bar connecting said work-holders and the pantograph, means acting on said bar at the descent of each needle, and serving 7 toprevent movement of the pantograph during thetime the needles are in the work, and

means whereby the needles may be locked above the work after the work-holders have been released and at the completion of each 7 stitch.

9. In embroidery sewing machines, the combination with a 'train of sewing machine heads, each head supporting a mainshaft, a needle, and needle-reciprocating means, of a train of work-holders, a pantograph, a supporting bar connecting said work-holders and the pantograph, a driving-shaft adapted to actuate the main-shaft of each machinehead, automatically acting 8 means, operatively connected to said driving-shaft whereby said work-holders are 'held motionless while the needles are in the work, and means connected to said drivingneedle after the work-holders have been released and at the completion of each stitch.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

RBERT GORRALL. JAMES MOIR FORBES.

Witnesses: I

WALLACE ORANSTON FAIRWEATHER, HENRY Meson.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

